Joakim Noah thought Pau Gasol would be too cold in Chicago
Just about every team in the league would love to have Pau Gasol on their team. Once it was clear he would not be remaining with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, the bidding began. Eventually, the Chicago Bulls beat out the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, among others, for his services, which is something Bulls’ center Joakim Noah didn’t think would happen. [related-category[
According to Mark Strotman of CSN Chicago, Joakim Noah believed Pau Gasol would think Chicago was too cold.
"“Because it’s freezing out here,” Noah said when asked why he thought the Bulls wouldn’t land Gasol. “I think the last time he was here it was that polar, arctic thing. The polar vortex thing going on. It’s brutal.“So when you’re used to the beach every day, to pick the polar vortex says a lot.”Noah was referencing a Jan. 20 tilt at the United Center between the Bulls and Lakers. And though the weather on the day of the game, per accuweather.com, was a balmy 37 degrees, the rest of that week saw lows in the single-digits, including two days in below-zero weather."
Pau Gasol has decided to brave the cold and because of that decision, the Bulls could be a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.
Pau Gasol averaged 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game last season while shooting 48.0% from the field, 28.6% from beyond the arc and 73.6% from the free throw line. Joakim Noah averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 73.7% from the charity stripe.
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